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Kevin_Berry_r_chats_with_5th-grader_Paul_WinningAt about 8:30 Wednesday morning, Kevin Berry was boarding a school bus full of his fifth-grade students, anxious to set out on their end-of-the-year field trip to Camp Kulaqua in High Springs.

It’s going to be very depressing, Berry said, when they graduate in a couple of weeks. He’s known some of them since they were third-graders.

But at the same time, watching these children grow up, he said, is part of what he loves about his job.

This week, the College of Education at the University of Florida announced Kevin Berry as its winner of the 2010 Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Berry teaches third through fifth grade gifted science and social studies classes at Alachua Elementary School, and he works as a mentor for students within the College of Education. He’s also working toward his doctorate in curriculum, teaching and teacher education.

According to Larry Lansford, UF College of Education director of news and communications, Berry was one of Alachua Elementary’s first National Board Certified teachers, and he continues to act as a mentor to his peers; working with other teachers to help them obtain the prestigious certification.

Principal James Brandenburg, who hired Berry almost 12 years ago, said he really stood out from day one.

Brandenburg described the young teacher as being full of energy and focused on the kids. Berry can do 10 things at once, and he possesses a critical ability to communicate with all kinds of students, Brandenburg said.

“A lot of good teaching is just being able to tune in on their [students’] wavelength,” Brandenburg explained.

Berry said he always knew he wanted to teach, and now he can’t imagine anything else he’d rather be doing, or anywhere else he’d rather be. He said he never wants to lose contact with the classroom, and all his hopes and plans are to continue teaching in Alachua County.

He knew by the time he was in ninth grade, he said, that he wanted to go to UF to pursue a degree in education. He has always had family in the area, and said he loves it here.

“I’m really proud to be a part of this community.”

He was both surprised and honored, he said, when he found out about the award.

“I really don’t consider myself different from anyone else—I do things because I think they need to be done and because I enjoy doing them.”

Berry said he really appreciates all the people who put in effort to have him recognized, and he feels humbled.

“I think he’s still kind of baffled about why he was chosen,” said Brandenburg. “But I think that’s very sincere. It’s not that he needed it, it’s that he deserved it.”

Berry said he has and will continue to do what he does; be the best teacher he can be, regardless of this or any other shiny new plaques to put on his wall. But he does hope to use his recognition as a platform to encourage other graduates of the College of Education to stay connected to the school.

“The help you receive and the learning you can do doesn’t necessarily have to end when you cross the stage.”

He said that his own relationship with the college helps to provide a bountiful resource for Alachua Elementary and its other teachers.  “When we need something, we can go to them.”

“Berry represents the very best that the College of Education has,” Brandenburg said.

This year, it was discussed that the recipient should be someone who truly represents great teaching, as opposed to a graduate who has gone on to an entirely different field. He was the obvious choice.